Month: January 2015

I came across this particular quote on TV and it set the wheels inside my head spinning. Yes, when you are in the depths of despair nursing your broken heart, quotes like this definitely lift up your spirits, give you hope and help you move on. But again there are those sad, pathetic quotes which we all love reading no matter how much they make us cry.

So what are the quotes that make you remember that one person, the one that got away?? You know, the quotes that make you think- Oh my God, that is soooo my quote, that is absolutely the state of my heart. You know, the quotes that make you choke up every time you read them. Rings any bells?? The comment box is right below waiting for your opinion.. 🙂

Here are a few of my favourite SAD quotes- from songs, books and my very good friend- Google.

“Sometimes, when you are not getting the love you want, giving makes you think you will.”
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life…You give them a piece of you. They didn’t ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn’t your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like ‘maybe we should be just friends’ turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It’s a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones

“My love for you was bulletproof but you’re the one who shot me”

— “Bulletproof Love”, Pierce the veil

“When you drop a glass or a plate to the ground it makes a long crashing sound. When a window shatters, a table leg breaks, or when a picture falls off the wall it makes a noise. But as for your heart, when that breaks, it’s completely silent. You would think as it’s so important it would make the loudest noise in the whole world, or even have some sort of ceremonious sound like the gong of a cymbal or the ringing of a bell. But it’s silent and you almost wish there was a noise to distract you from the pain.”
― Cecelia Ahern

“Losing what I never found”

— Down, Jason Walker

This quote isn’t really similar to the ones above- but it is beautiful all the same:

“An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby’s birth. Then whispered as she closed the book ‘too beautiful for earth’.

Okay so after all the depressing quotes, here’s another spirit-lifter and my all-time favourite:

“She was mine, had always been, and I’d always been hers. Despite what I’d done, the wounds I’d inflicted, she had always been mine…. our hearts had been tied, our bond one that neither of us could ever escape.”

There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian Davison, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth Ayers. For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back. Can Elizabeth forgive someone who has committed the unforgiveable? Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

“Once again, I found myself on the edge looking down, wondering when I’d get so close that I’d fall. Or maybe I’d just jump.”

The blurb does NOT do the book justice. But since I don’t want to give anything away, I guess this is all you will get. This book…its sooo beautiful. The idea is fresh, the characters are amazing. Little Lizzie is going to tug at your heartstrings with all her cute dialogues and sympathetic situation. Elizabeth is a strong protagonist, although she IS a bit frustrating at times. And Christian- *sigh* Its so easy to understand why Elizabeth fell for him inspite of his flaws. Not your typical ‘perfect’ hero. In fact, I hated him in the first chapter, and then hated myself for falling for his charms the next chapter onwards. And of course, the alternating POV just makes it better. Its safe to say that this book is, and will be, one of my all-time favorites.

(I’m still making the playlist for the sequel, If Forever Comes, and will be posting it soon)

DREAM CAST:

Christian:

Elizabeth:

Lizzie:

PLAYLIST:

1. Wasting All These Tears On You- Cassadee Pope (flashback to 5 years back)

And you left me Standing on a corner crying, Feeling like a fool for trying

2. The Lonely- Christina Perri (Elizabeth’s POV)

Dancing slowly in an empty room, Can the lonely take the place of you?

3. Lately- The Helio Sequence (Christian’s POV)

Lately, I don’t think of you at all Or wonder what you’re up to, or how you’re getting on I never think of calling you, or how things could have been Or wonder where you sleep at night, or whose arms you wake in

4. The Reason- Hoobastank (Christian repents for his mistakes)

I’m not a perfect person There’s many things I wish I didn’t do But I continue learning I never meant to do those things to you

5. Never Grow Up- Taylor Swift (Elizabeth to Lizzie)

Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let no one break your heart And no one will desert you Just try to never grow up, never grow up

6. Need You Now- Taylor Swift (As the story progresses….)

Said I wouldn’t call but I’ve lost all control and I need you now.

7. Far Away- Nickelback (Elizabeth’s birthday)

I have loved you all along And I miss you Been far away for far too long

When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan’s romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.

Cast as romantic leads once again, they’re forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they’ll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.

Before I say anything else, if you don’t want to be tortured then don’t read this book until the second book releases. I’m seriously dying here.. I mean, why would a book be ended like THAT?? but anyways, I really loved this book. The writing style is cool, with alternative flashbacks and present happenings. The moment Romeo is introduced, my reaction – *swoon*. Yes he was frustrating and annoying, but that’s kind of what I love- imperfectly perfect. If angsty romance is your cup of tea, then you’ll love this book.

Oh, P.S- You don’t need to be a Romeo and Juliet fan for liking it, but a completely cynical mind won’t like all the angst.

DREAM CAST:

Ethan:

Cassie:

PLAYLIST:

1. Look at what I’ve done- Chris Cagle

“I saw it in her eyes When I was sayin’ goodbye That girl, she ain’t gonna be alright ‘Cause I could tell She’d be goin’ through a livin’ hell And I wouldn’t be there by her side“

2. In My Veins- Andrew Belle

Oh, you’re in my veins And I cannot get you out

3. Enchanted- Taylor Swift

There I was again tonight Forcing laughter, faking smiles Same old tired lonely place

4. Always Hate Me- James Blunt

And she will always hate me, no matter what I say. And there is no mistaking, the love is gone. Yea she will always hate me, she said “you lost me baby” No matter what I say, the love is gone.

5. Hall of Fame- The Script

Standing in the hall of fame And the world’s gonna know your name ‘Cause you burn with the brightest flame And the world’s gonna know your name And you’ll be on the walls of the hall of fame

6. Fight For This Love- Cheryl Cole

Anything that’s worth havin’ Sure enough worth fighting for Quittin’s out of the question When it gets tough, gotta fight some more, oh

7. Let Me Love You- Ne-yo

Girl let me love you A heart of numbness gets brought to life I’ll take you there

8. Love Story- Taylor Swift (Theme song for Bad Romeo)

“Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I’ll be waiting; all that’s left to do is run. You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess, It’s a love story, baby, just say, ‘Yes.'”

Once upon a time there lived a girl who happened to stumble upon the Goodreads page of one of her favorite authors, Autumn Doughton. The girl decided to take a chance and send her a message, informing her about a playlist she had made based on one of Doughton’s books. Imagine the girl’s surprise when Autumn replies to her message. Through a few mails exchanged, the girl sends her playlist to Autumn (who shared it on her facebook page), and being who she is (*wink*), she asks her to do an interview for her blog. And the rest is…well, just read on to know the rest.

For those who do not know about Autumn Doughton, she writes YA contemporary romances. 4 of her distinct works are:

The first few questions are sort of routine questions that I love asking ANYBODY…

1. What is your favorite quote??

“All your tomorrows start here.” This is a Neil Gaiman quote and I have it all over the place–in art, painted on furniture, etc. I love that it’s simple but hopeful. People always complain about what they “should have done” or try to analyze the past. Learn from your errors but sometimes looking back can become a kind of prison. I try to remember that no matter what my goal is or where I’m going, my tomorrows start now. That’s what matters.

2. What is your favorite color?

Green. Greeny-blue. Ocean colors… specifically the Gulf of Mexico

3. Favorite contemporary and classic authors?

It might be trite but I have to admit I love Jane Austen. I can always use a Pride and Prejudice reread! For contemporary writers, I admire Neil Gaiman greatly. For the rest, I read most genres so it depends on what I’m in the mood for… Melina Marcetta for YA, Karen Marie Moning and Juliet Marillier for fantasy, Toni Morrison and Carlos Ruiz Zafon for fiction/lit., and Paublo Neruda for poetry. I read a lot of New Adult and romance (as you probably guessed) but it’s so hard for me to narrow down which of those authors I love the most, especially since I get to see them at book signings in person and fall even more in love. If I had to pick, I would have to say that Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber and S.C. Stephens top my list. I was at a signing with Colleen Hoover this past summer and I definitely fan-girled like a lunatic 🙂

4. Favorite book and song??

Eeeeek! It was nearly impossible for me to pick my favorite authors so my favorite book is waaaaay hard. But, if I have to choose, I’ll say A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. It has been one of my favorites since I was 14 and I still read it every few years to remember why I loved it so much. For music, it should be noted that music is a really important part of my writing process. I tend to gravitate toward indie music and I would say my tastes wobble between rock and pop but that changes based on what I am working on. Right now my fave bands are Typhoon and The Paper Kites, but I’m also listening to a lot of Ed Sheeran because he reminds me of the book I’m working on.

The next questions are directed mainly to the author in you..

5. Do you base your characters on any real person? (Not-so-subtle hint: Do guys like Cole Everly and Landon Young really exist?)

Yes and no. I use elements of real people in all of my characters. Some are based off my close friends and others off of people I encountered in school or in my daily life. I always fictionalize parts of them or combine two or three people into one character so no one is exactly like someone I know. Also, there’s a lot of me in all of the characters. Not totally, but I try to think of specific times in life when I felt a certain way–sad or bitchy or upbeat or angry and I try to imagine what it would be like to feel like that all of the time if that’s the personality I’m going for. It’s almost like acting–you create these fictional backgrounds for even the minor characters.

And, yes, in a way guys like Cole Everly and Landon Young do exist! I use old boyfriends and past date experiences–the good, the bad and the ugly–when I’m writing male characters. And I don’t mean to sound completely cheesy but I use my husband for inspiration. He’s hot and smart and seriously one of the nice guys. It’s the little things he does–the small gestures to make me know he cares. I posted this on Facebook last week and I think this explains it:

I’m blind as a bat and every single night, I fall asleep reading or watching TV with my glasses on. After I’ve drifted off, my husband comes to bed and he always removes my glasses. And then in the morning, I have to try to figure out where he put them.

It’s one of my favorite parts of the day.

See what I mean? Sometimes love is just about glasses.

6. When did you first start wanting to be an author?

I think I always wanted to write. I was a voracious reader even when I was very young and that definitely inspired me. But, I delayed starting for a long time simply because I lacked the confidence. I was afraid of sharing my work… afraid people would think I was stupid for trying. It took me a long time to work up the courage to put myself out there. And it’s still a struggle. When I work, about half of my time is spent arguing with myself over what works and what doesn’t. I write, write, write, then I delete, delete, delete. And hopefully by the end of the day, I have gained a full paragraph.

7.Which book (and which part of it) gave you the most amount of trouble while writing it?

Every book I write is the hardest. That’s because my only goal is to get better than I was the last time. I try not compare myself or strive to be like a certain author because I think that’s a losing battle. All I can do is be a better version of me. Every time I write a book, I learn something about pacing, voice, plot, structuring, etc. So I try to carry that over to my next project. I thought writing would get easier with time, but the truth is, my standards increase and writing becomes more challenging. But I feel like if I’m not changing or growing, I’m done. Ya know?

8. Apart from Steering the stars, are you working on, or planning about, another book?

Yes! I am currently co-writing a young adult book with my friend Erica Cope. It’s been so fun to write with someone who I love and admire. Maybe it wouldn’t work for everyone but we are well-matched. I keep getting questions about the story and the best example I can come up with is that it’s like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but without the pants.

I also have a few other stories brewing. One is a new adult paranormal and I have a few chapters of that one written. The other is a new adult circadian novel (meaning it takes place in one day). That one is outlined and I have bits and pieces written. Last, I’ve been playing around with a novella for a while. It was inspired by a wedding I went to last year and I think it’s sort of a romantic comedy. I’m not sure which of these will see the light of day first but I will keep you posted!

The obvious questions..

9. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

About myself? Well, let’s see… I’ve already told you I’m a big reader. I have a mad love for the simple things: movies, dogs, funny cat pictures, avocados, traveling, my daughters, concerts, etc. I grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and because of that, a lot of my inspiration comes from the water and things having to do with the ocean. I love everything about the beach–the way the salt dries on your skin and the way the sun feels in your face.

I’m big into friendship and I’ve had the same two best friends since I was in elementary school. I draw a lot for my stories from my relationships with the two of them and the other close friends I’ve made over the years. People have asked me before how I write such strong friendships. I write strong friendships because I believe in them and I’ve been lucky enough to have them.

And, I’m married with two daughters. We are big animal people so we have cats, dogs, chinchillas and a rabbit. I get a lot of joy just from being home in my extremely loud but fun house.

10. Message to your readers?

What to say to my readers? For one, thank you! It’s hard to sound completely genuine on a computer screen but I do mean it. I’m blown away by the love and support I get and I know that I would be nowhere without you guys. Because people care enough about books and finding new authors, I’m able to live out my dream. That is e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!

I don’t really have a “message,” but I do have a few life mottos that I try to stick to.

1. EMBRACE THE WEIRD. Seriously. If you find someone a little weird but wonderful, grab them and never let them go.

2. BE KIND. This should go without saying but it shocks me how many people so not embrace this concept. It’s really important to me to treat everyone like they are somebody. I don’t care whether it’s a homeless guy or the CEO of a huge corporation–people matter! The way you treat people is the legacy you leave the world.

3. LET GO. Being nice doesn’t mean that you should let people treat you badly or allow yourself to be walked on. I’ve learned about users and jerks and I’ve stopped trying to make excuses for those people. Surround yourself with people who love you and want good things for you and let go of the rest!

4. SHARE. It took me years to share the part of myself that was a writer, even with the people who were closest to me. I was afraid to peel back the layers that I wore for the world. I was afraid of revealing too much because I thought, “What if they don’t like what I am underneath it all?” Every time I write a new story and people start reading it, my stomach cramps with nerves and I have a mini freak out session. But putting myself out there and doing things from my soul has made my life and my relationships deeper. If people don’t want to know you for who you really are, you don’t want to know them.

5. TRUST YOUR STORY. You have to believe that you are going somewhere and that your tomorrows really do start right here.

I would like to end today’s post by giving a big thank you to Autumn Doughton. I was already your fan, but this conversation onwards, I’m not only an admirer of your books, but also your personality. Keep inspiring us with your awesome writing.